Q701--LifeGift Organ Donation Acquisition Fees Service

The Department of Veterans Affairs, through Network Contracting Office 16, has awarded a sole-source, firm-fixed-price Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract to LifeGift Organ Donation Center for organ acquisition services supporting the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, Texas. This five-year contract, effective June 1, 2026, and concluding May 31, 2031, authorizes LifeGift to recover, preserve, and transport viable liver, kidney, and heart organs within Southeast Texas exclusively for VA transplant operations. The procurement is justified under FAR 12.102(b) as a statutory sole source due to federal regulations under 42 U.S.C. § 273 and 42 CFR Part 486, Subpart G, which designate LifeGift as the sole certified Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) for this region, eliminating competition. The contract value is capped at $90,000,000, with an initial awarded amount of $6,606,950, and pricing is strictly benchmarked against Medicare’s Standard Acquisition Charges (SACs) to ensure cost reasonableness and compliance with federal reimbursement policy. Performance is centered on timely delivery of organs to the MEDVAMC, with all activities—recovery, preservation, and transportation—governed by federal standards, including 42 CFR 413.402 for allowable costs and OPTN protocols for organ allocation. Inspection and acceptance occur at both the recovery site in Houston and the destination transplant facility, with LifeGift accountable for maintaining organ viability and regulatory compliance. The contract does not specify packaging, marking, or invoicing protocols, nor does it detail payment office instructions, COR/COTR assignments, or electronic systems usage. The sole-source nature of the award precludes competitive evaluation factors, trade-offs, or LPTA considerations; instead, the selection rests solely on LifeGift’s federally mandated exclusivity and certification. While the acquisition is publicly posted on SAM.gov and supported by a completed sole source justification, no socioeconomic, small business, or subcontracting representations are required or provided. The contracting officer listed is Stephanie R Keo, and the office is located in Ridgeland, Mississippi, with payment coordination handled through the VA’s Houston contracting office.